Update on measles cases and control and prevention arrangement against measles at airport

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The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 12) that no additional case of measles infection has been recorded as at 4pm today and announced the arrangement of control and prevention strategy at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in the coming two weeks.

A spokesman for the DH said, "As the measles outbreak at the airport cannot be concluded in the near future, the control measures including vaccination and blood testing services will continue for a period of time. Detailed arrangement will depend on the latest situation and will be announced in due course."

From tomorrow (April 13) to April 28, the vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport will remain at 500 doses daily. Vaccination for eligible airport staff will be provided to the following target groups who:

(1) Were born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG)

Details of evidence are as follows:

Supporting documents for living with infants under 1-year-old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant

Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women

Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH's measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:

Venue:

Multi-function Room, HKIA Tower (Level 5, Terminal 2)

Hours:

April 13 to 28
10am to 1pm
2pm to 6pm

As for the blood test service, the DH will continue to arrange the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. Starting next week, a DH contractor will provide the blood test service to about 200 airport staff who were born in or after 1967 daily from Tuesdays to Thursdays (April 16 to 18 and 23 to 25). The blood test service will be suspended from Fridays to Mondays.

The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station are as follows:

Venue:

South side before the Immigration Hall at Level 3 of Terminal 2 (non-restricted area)

Hours:

April 16 to 18 and 23 to 25
9am to 1pm

A total of 52 persons received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 130. As for blood test services, 95 blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results.

A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries. Starting tomorrow, the hotline will operate during office hours from Mondays to Fridays. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 3 136 enquiries.

"The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," the spokesman advised.